In the series finale in Boston on Thursday, the Orioles will face a Red Sox pitcher nearly two years removed from his last start.

Alfredo Aceves is stepping in because John Lackey is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained biceps. Aceves has been exclusively a denizen of the bullpen since he last got a big-league start in June 2011.

"One of the reasons we talked so positively about Alfredo is the versatility he does have, and we'll get a look at that [Thursday] night," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

In 185 career games, Aceves has started nine times. He is coming off a tumultuous season under one-and-done manager Bobby Valentine. Aceves was briefly suspended by the team last year when he got into a postgame argument with Valentine after not being used to close a game. Another time, he showed up Valentine when being removed from a game, refusing to hand him the ball directly — instead using catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia as a conduit.